Say Hello to our Featured Member David Harris!

Our association is a robust and diverse set of educators, students, researchers, medical professionals, volunteers and academics that come from all walks of life and from around the globe. Each month we choose a member to highlight their academic and professional career and see how they are making the best of their membership in IAMSE. This month’s Featured Member is David Harris.

David Harris
Professor of Medical Education
University of Central Florida College of Medicine, USA
Medical Science Educator Editor-in-Chief

How long have you been a member of IAMSE? 
I just received my 10-year certificate at the IAMSE 2023 Conference!

Congratulations on the beginning of your time as the Editor-in-Chief of Medical Science Educator (MSE)! How did you originally get involved with the MSE? And what inspired you to take on your new role?
Thank you as I am honored. My initial involvement with the journal was serving as a reviewer like most of the Editorial Board members. I have been inspired by how the journal has flourished in the past decade under Peter de Jong’s leadership. I believe Medical Science Educator represents the great work of IAMSE and through it illustrates the values of the association and how it can lead in health sciences education throughout the world. It is indeed the outward face of IAMSE. I hope that by working with the dedicated Board and reviewers that we can continue the upward trajectory and impact of the journal.

Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to?
I love the Annual Conferences. I enjoy seeing familiar faces, but also meeting new people who come from different backgrounds and experiences. I have made many friends through focus session activities. The things I look most forward to include meeting those people attending for the first time. Usually, they feel very welcomed and so impressed with the staff and organization of the conferences that IAMSE becomes their “home”. 

What would you say to someone who is interested in getting involved with the MSE, either by submitting a manuscript or becoming a reviewer?
My advice for anyone reviewing or submitting a manuscript is that you should be courageous – not be afraid to do either. If you are just beginning to do educational research, reviewing is a great way to see how the process works. This includes reviewing papers that may not necessarily be in your “wheelhouse” as that is an opportunity to learn. We also hold workshops to help new and experienced reviewers, which is rather unique to IAMSE. If you are considering submitting a manuscript, I also feel you should not be afraid to do so. In my experience, educational research reviews are some of the most constructive, fair, and helpful that I’ve received.    

Anything else that you would like to add?
I am grateful for all the great people I have met in IAMSE, colleagues that I have worked with, and of course the JulNet staff that is fabulous in what they do. I definitely feel this association is my home society.